Youth Promise
Act - Youth Support Campaign
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Youth Promise
Act - Youth Support Campaign
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Our MissionThe mission of Barrios Unidos - Virginia Chapter is to prevent and curtail violence amongst youth by providing them with positive, life affirming activities. Our model seeks to reclaim youth, families and neighborhoods through culturally appropriate community building efforts.
Barrios Unidos HistoryThe National Coalition of Barrios Unidos began in the violent streets of urban California in 1977. The coalition was founded by grassroots Chicano community organizers from Northern and Southern Californian who saw a need to deal with the growing problems plaguing barrios, primarily youth violence. Realizing through conferences and meetings that these problems were the same in rural as well as urban neighborhoods, Barrios Unidos was organized into local chapters throughout the state. Today there are 13 chapters in California alone and 24 chapters nationwide. The Northern Virginia Chapter of Barrios Unidos began in 1995. It was an initiative organized by youth from the Bailey’s Crossroad area of Fairfax County who found supportive adults to help in the establishment of the organization. Since then, Barrios Unidos has continued to make a difference in the lives of many young people through principles and methods of gang prevention and intervention to their communities. Barrios Unidos - Virginia Chapter is the latest transformation of the well know community building movement. Barrios Unidos - Virginia Chapter is a grassroots movement of young adult and youth who are tired of the madness and are committed to making a difference in their communities.
Our ApproachBarrios Unidos violence prevention strategies and activities consist of working with youth and developing cultural pride through outreach activities, skills-building exercises, leadership meetings, individual mentoring, and community activities. Barrios Unidos’ strategy is to reduce violence among young people by generating a clear understanding that violence is preventable, while providing other services and family support.Barrios Unidos strongly believes that helping the youth also helps the parents and the community as a whole. Barrios Unidos utilizes community youth residents and trains them to take leadership and mentor the next generation, breaking the cycle of poverty through knowledge, positive opportunities and activities, and self-empowerment. Providing training and hands on skills, along with cultural awareness, community support and redirection of human energy and potential, Barrios Unidos provides hope for young people and helps them plan for a positive future.As an movement devoted to violence prevention/intervention, Barrios Unidos provides alternatives for at risk youth through on-going educational outreach, leadership development, gang prevention workshops, job skills training, and community economic development.Two major program goals are to engage the community to take action in their youths’ lives and help develop their potential, and to engage youth as partners and resources. This approach fosters change through intimate involvement with youth and the community, based on the recognition that the power to change lies within themselves.
Contact Information
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Send mail to
juan.pacheco@usa.net with
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